NWAPH comment on Labour’s educational reform so far

We commend the Government’s proactive approach to Education reform & the Education Secretary’s commitment to listen to & work with partners. We particularly welcome:
• the announcement of Government funded pay rises as a positive step towards rectifying years of below-inflation wage adjustments as well as recognising & valuing the dedication of our teaching professionals.
• the move away from the OFSTED single word judgement, however more reform is needed & we are keen to share our constructive ideas about how this could happen
• the appointment of Kevan Collins as standards & inclusion ‘tsar’. We know Kevan to be a highly experienced & respected professional of tremendous integrity
• the appointment of Professor Becky Francis to the curriculum & assessment review & Helen Hayes as the chair of the Education Select Committee. We believe that these appointments demonstrate commitment to the necessary review & improvements of the education system.

We have also noted the following points from the Labour manifesto:
• Reform in Childcare & Early Years Support: The focus on ensuring children have the best start in life is crucial. We agree that early support is vital to closing the development gap & providing a firm foundation for every child.
• Broadening Education & Raising Standards: Labour’s commitment to raising school standards & ensuring every child has essential skills & a broad curriculum is commendable. We are particularly interested in learning more about how Labour plans to address the gaps in literacy & numeracy, & how they intend to broaden educational opportunities through the recruitment & training of additional expert teachers.

To ensure effective implementation of these manifesto promises, we seek further details on the following concerns:
• RAAC; strategies & timelines for mitigating this issue.
• the capacity in the current system to meet the needs of children with SEND.
• the recruitment & retention of school and college leaders, teachers & support staff.
• Sufficient funding to enable schools to deliver on their core function & for the Government to deliver on their promises/pledges.
• the implications of the removal of tax breaks for private schools & the possibility of criminal convictions for parents who take their children out of school during term time.

We look forward to engaging with the new Government to address these challenges & collaborate towards effective solutions.